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Reeves eyeing £40bn in tax rises and spending cuts Reeves eyeing £40bn in tax rises and spending cuts
(about 2 hours later)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking to make tax rises and spending cuts to the value of £40bn in this month’s Budget, government sources have told the BBC.Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking to make tax rises and spending cuts to the value of £40bn in this month’s Budget, government sources have told the BBC.
At a political cabinet meeting this morning, Reeves told ministers that filling the "£22bn black hole inheritance from the previous government" would only be enough "to keep public services standing still".At a political cabinet meeting this morning, Reeves told ministers that filling the "£22bn black hole inheritance from the previous government" would only be enough "to keep public services standing still".
Reeves is now drawing up plans to find £40bn in order to avoid real-terms cuts to departments, sources say, as first reported in the Financial Times, external and the Times, external.Reeves is now drawing up plans to find £40bn in order to avoid real-terms cuts to departments, sources say, as first reported in the Financial Times, external and the Times, external.
Reeves warned ministers there would be "difficult decisions on spending, welfare, and tax" to come in her October Budget. Reeves warned ministers there would be "difficult decisions on spending, welfare, and tax" to come in her Budget this month.
The chancellor is finalising details of her first Budget, to be announced on Wednesday 30 October.The chancellor is finalising details of her first Budget, to be announced on Wednesday 30 October.
She recently said there would be "no return to austerity" under this government and promised a boost to government investment, designed to kickstart growth.She recently said there would be "no return to austerity" under this government and promised a boost to government investment, designed to kickstart growth.
The chancellor is setting herself a new borrowing rule which means all day-to-day spending should be funded from taxes raised, not from borrowing.
It is this rule which is binding the government’s hands, and why they are seeking some welfare savings as well as a series of tax rises at the Budget.
A HM Treasury spokesperson said: "We do not comment on speculation around tax changes outside of fiscal events."A HM Treasury spokesperson said: "We do not comment on speculation around tax changes outside of fiscal events."
In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out a National Insurance increase for employers in the Budget. In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, did not rule out a National Insurance increase for employers in the Budget.
Treasury officials are reportedly exploring National Insurance on employer pension contributions to raise Budget revenue.Treasury officials are reportedly exploring National Insurance on employer pension contributions to raise Budget revenue.
Employers pay NI at a rate of 13.8% on all employees' earnings above £175 per week, but pension contributions made by employers are currently exempt from the levy.Employers pay NI at a rate of 13.8% on all employees' earnings above £175 per week, but pension contributions made by employers are currently exempt from the levy.
The prime minister side-stepped questions over whether Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise taxes for "working people" covered employers' NI too.The prime minister side-stepped questions over whether Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise taxes for "working people" covered employers' NI too.
The Labour Party's 2024 manifesto ruled out raising taxes for "working people", such as National Insurance, income tax and VAT.The Labour Party's 2024 manifesto ruled out raising taxes for "working people", such as National Insurance, income tax and VAT.
On Monday, Reeves said Labour's election pledge not to increase NI on "working people" related to the employee element, as opposed to the sum paid by employers.On Monday, Reeves said Labour's election pledge not to increase NI on "working people" related to the employee element, as opposed to the sum paid by employers.
Leading business groups in the UK raised concerns over the potential tax rise, warning that it would "hobble" economic growth and "hammer" the hospitality sector.Leading business groups in the UK raised concerns over the potential tax rise, warning that it would "hobble" economic growth and "hammer" the hospitality sector.
Would raising employer National Insurance break Labour's pledge?Would raising employer National Insurance break Labour's pledge?
The prime minister is adamant that he will not be drawn on Budget speculation in advance of the formal announcement in just over a fortnight. The £40bn figure is much higher than government has previously acknowledged, as ministers come to terms with the economic reality of delivering on their promise that there will be "no return to austerity".
That is the standard position that governments adopt given these are market-moving measures – and in this particular case the Budget will be the biggest political and economic moment for this government so far. So why mention it now? To mentally prepare the public for tax rises to come, and begin to set the parameters as to what to expect.
The prime minister has talked about how those with the "broadest shoulders" should bear the "heaviest burden".
There are two weeks to go until we see what that means. There will no doubt be plenty more pitch-rolling in the days ahead.